Extension-table.



W. F. BLUE.

EXTENSION TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 27, 1913. 1,173,646. I Y

Patented Feb. 29, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

WIITNEES: 1N VENTOR; 1W m Xi. WM. I

ATTORNEY.

I THE COLUMBIA FLANOGRAPH 5:0, WASHINGTON, D. c.

W. F. BLUE.

EXTENSION TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 27 1913.

Patented Feb. 29, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

43 w J19 M n" J] WITNESSES: 1.-v VENTOR:

M556. 'ATTORNEK To all whom/it may concern WILIBERT 13. BLUE, OF MONTEZUMA, INDIANA.

. EXTENSION-TABLE.

- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 29, 1916.

Application filed June 2'7, 1913. Serial No. 776,165.

Be it known that I, WILBERT F. BLUE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Montezuma, in the county of Parke and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Extension-Table, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates to dining tables that are adapted to be extended in length with inserted top boards or sections in order to accommodate a relatively larger number of diners, the invention having reference more particularly to an extension table that is provided with gearing for moving the parts of the table apart or drawing them together.

An object of the invention is to provide an extension table of the above-mentioned character that shall be so constructed as to be easily adjusted and without causing injury to the operator.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide an extension table with means whereby the parts of the table may be easily moved apart and positively held and pre-' vented from accidentally spreading farther apart, and whereby the parts may be easily drawn together and firmly held against accidentally spreading.

A still further object of the invention is to provide means for spreading the parts of an extension table apart equal distances from the middle of the table, especially such tables as have middle legs in order that the middle leg or legs shall be constantly maintained midway between the end supporting legs without it being necessary to go under the table and manually adjust the middle leg or legs to the desired position,- which improvement shall be adapted to be used also in connection with extension tables having a central supporting pedestal.

WVith the above mentioned and other ob jects in View, the invention consists in an extension table comprising two main parts provided respectively with two connecting devices and a middle part provided with operating and controlling means for the main parts and operatively connected with the connecting devices thereof.

The invention consists further in the novel parts and in the novel combinations and arrangements of parts as hereinafter particularly described and further defined in the accompanying claim.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of an extension table provided with the improvement; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top plan partially broken away; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section approximately on the line A A in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section approximately on the line B B in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a central section of one of the connecting devices; Fig. 6 is an inverted plan of the table havingfive legs and provided with the improvement; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a crank for operating the gearing of the table; Fig. 8 is a central section of a pedestal extension table provided with the improvement; Fig. 9 is a fragmentary top plan of the pedestal table; Fig. 10 is an inverted plan, and Fig. 11 is a fragmentary central section of the pedestal table.

Similar reference characters in the difi'erent figures of the drawings indicate corre sponding elements or features of construction herein referred to.

A familiar form of five-leg extension table is illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, and comprises a frame center-board 1 secured on a leg 2 having a caster 3, two guide bars 4: and 5 being secured upon the opposite end portions of the center-board. One of the main parts comprises a frame member 6 to which two slides 7 and 8 are secured that are in sliding connection with the guide bars, the companion main part comprising a frame member 9 to which is secured two slides 10 and 11 that are also in sliding connection with the guide bars. A top portion 12 is secured to the slides 7 and 8 and a top portion 13 is secured to the slides 10 and 11. The frame member 6 is provided with two legs 141 and 15, the member 9 being provided with two legs 16 and 17, the legs being provided with casters 3, 3". Normally the top portions 12 and 13 are in contact each with the other and, as will be understood, are drawn apart to permit the insertion of top filling boards in order to increase the length of the table. The table frame comprises also facing boards 18, 19 and 20 secnred to the top portion 12 and also to the member 6, and facing boards 21, 22 and 23 secured to the top portion 13 and also to the member 9. It will be understood that the frame of the table may be variously constructed in detail.

The top of the center-board 1 is provided with a base plate 24 that is secured on the top thereof by means of screws 25 and it supports a main journal box 26 which preferably is cast integrally with. the base plate, which has also an arm 27 thereon which supports a journal box 28 at an inclination to the plane of the base plate and approximately at right angles to the journal box 26. An operating shaft 29 is rotatably mounted in the journal box 26 and extends under the top portions of the main parts of the table nearly to the frame boards 18 and 21. A bevel pinion 30 is secured to the shaft 29 at one side of the journal box 26 and serves as a collar, a collar 31 being secured to the shaftat the opposite side of the journal box for preventing longitudinal movement of the shaft which is provided with screwthreads 32 extending from one end, and oppositely pitched screw-threads 33 extending from the opposite end of the shaft, so that the shaft has right-hand and left-hand screw-threads. The top portion 12 is provided with a connecting device which comprises a base plate 34 that is secured by means of screws 35 to the under side of the top portion, the base plate having a boss or lug 36 thereon in which are screw-threads 37 corresponding to the screw-threads 32, the threaded shaft extending through the boss and also through the boss or lug 36 of a similar connecting device having a base plate 34 which is secured by means of screws 35' to the under side of the top portion 13, so that when the shaft is rotated in one direction the top portions 12 and 13 are forced apart and move the elements connected therewith as portions of the main parts of the table, the main parts being drawn together on reverse motion of the shaft.

In order to conveniently and easily operate the shaft 29 a base 38 is secured to the center-board 1 by means of screws 39 and it has a journal box 40 thereon, a driving shaft 41 being rotatably mounted in the journal boxes 28 and 40. A bevel gear wheel 42 is secured to the driving shaft in mesh with the pinion 30, and a collar 43 is secured to the shaft adjacent to the journal box 40, the hub of the gear wheel serving as an opposing collar against the journal box 28. The journal boxes are so arranged that they support the driving shaft at an inclination so that the shaft extends downwardly under the guide 4. The outer end portion 44 of the driving shaft 41 preferably is less in diameter than the remaining portion and has a driving pin 45 fixed transversely thereon. In'order to rotate the driving shaft a crank shaft 46 is provided that has a socket 47 therein to receive the end portion 44 and it has also a slot 48 to receive the driving pin '45, the crank shaft having a crank arm 49 thereon.

the slides 10 and 11 for the' companion main part of the table which have the top portions 12 and 13 respectively which are provided respectively with the connecting device as above described, the main parts being provided respectively with two pedestal parts 50 and 51 on the cap portions of which are secured two frame members 52 and 53 respectively that are secured to the slides of the respective main parts, the pedestal parts being provided with casters 54, 54 The screw-threaded shaft 29 is mounted as above described on the center-board 1 that is secured to the guide bars 4 and 5 and the shaft extends through the bosses 36 and 36 the driving shaft being supported and arranged as hereinbefore described relative to the center-board.

In practical use the crank shaft is placed in connection with the driving shaft 41 and rotated until the mainpartsof the table are forced apart the required distance, after which the filling-boards are placed in position uponthe guide bars between the top. portions, the driving shaft being-then turned slightly in reverse direction to draw the top portions tightly against the filling boards, so as to clamp the filling boards between the main top portions. The crank shaft may 7 then be disconnected from the driving shaft.

In order to again contract the table it is only necessary to first force the main parts slightly apart, remove theifilling boards and rotate the driving shaft until thetop portions are again drawn into contact each with the other, the gearing firmly holding the two main parts tightly together, so that the table may be pulled about upon the floor without pulling the main parts apart, the gearing preventing the movement of the center leg away from its proper central position.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is The herein-described improved appliance for an extension table of the character described, the appliance comprising a base plate adapted to be secured to the top of a central member of the table frame, said plate having a main journal box on its normal top" portion and also an arm extending beyond the plane of one end of said box, the arm having a relatively angled journal box thereon that is inclined to the plane of the base of said plate and being at right angle to said its main box, an operating-shaft rotatably' mounted between its ends in the main jour nal box and having oppositely-pitched screw threads extending from its opposite ends respectively, two screw-threaded bosses on said oppositely-pitched screw threads respectively, the bosses having each a base adapted to be secured to the under side of the main top parts respectively of the table, a bevel pinion secured to the operating-shaft adjacent to said arm and said journal boxes, a driving-shaft rotatably mounted in said angled box, a bevel gear wheel secured to said driving-shaft in mesh with said pinion, and a journal box adjustably arranged on said driving-shaft and having a base adapt- 1ejd to be secured to said central table mem- In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILBERT F. BLUE. Witnesses:

W. P. MONTGOMERY,

HARRY REEDER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. G. 

